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Article
214 of the Constitution of India reads as follows:

"214.
High Courts for States :-
There shall be a High Court for each State"

Thus this is the High Court for the State
of Kerala.

Article
230 enables the Indian Parliament, by law to extend the
jurisdiction of a High Court to any Union Territory. By virtue
of this the High Court of Kerala is also the High Court having
jurisdiction over the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

The High Court is a Constitutional Court in terms of Article
215. It is a court of record and has all the powers of such
court including the power to punish for contempt of itself.
Every High Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and such other
judges as the President of India from time to time deem it
necessary. At present, the sanctioned Judge strength of the High
Court of Kerala is 35 Permanent Judges including the Chief
Justice and 12 Additional Judges. Every judge including the Chief
Justice shall be appointed by the President of India by Warrant
under his hand and seal. Every permanent judge will continue in
office until he attains the age of 62 years. The Additional
Judges are appointed for a period not exceeding two years taking
into account the temporary increase in the business of the High
Court. Such judge shall also not hold office after attaining the
age of 62.

As at present,
there are 29 Permanent Judges including the Acting Chief Justice and
8
Additional Judges. They are:

In terms of Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the High
Court shall have power in relation to its territorial
jurisdiction to issue Directions, Orders and Writs including the
Writs in the nature of Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition,
Quowarranto and Certiorari for enforcement of the fundamental
rights guaranteed to the citizens under Part III of the
Constitution or for any other purpose. The High Court shall also
have superintendence over all Courts and Tribunals throughout
the territory in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction, as
provided in Article 227 of the Constitution.

The business and exercise of the powers of the High Court of
Kerala are regulated by the provisions contained in the Kerala
High Court Act, 1958 and the Rules of the High Court of Kerala,
1971 prescribed there-under. The High Court has Original,
Appellate as well as Revisional jurisdiction in both civil as
well as criminal matters apart from the power to answer
reference under certain statutes. The High Court transacts its
business, judges sitting single, in division and in specifically
referred matters in Full Bench.